I write out of deep concern over the whereabouts and welfare of Dhondup Wangchen and Golog Jigme, two Tibetans who have been detained by Chinese authorities since March 2008. Their alleged crime was to film Tibetans' peaceful expression of their views on the XXIX Olympic Games. Their work, the documentary film Leaving Fear Behind: Tibetans Speak on Tibet, China and the Olympics, presents a poignant picture of the hopes and aspirations of the Tibetan people. Dhondup Wangchen, from Hualong, Haidong (Qinghai) was detained by authorities on or about March 26, 2008. He was held in Ershilipu Detention Center in Xining (Qinghai), and was last seen in Guangsheng Binguan on or about July 12, 2008. Golog Jigme, a monk, from Golog Serta, Ganze (Sichuan) was detained on or about March 23, 2008. He was last seen in a detention center in the town of Lingxia (Gansu). When China made its bid to host the 2008 Olympic Games, it publicly pledged that its hosting of the games would boost the advancement of human rights. The detention of Dhondup Wangchen and Golog Jigme, flies in the face of that commitment. I urge you to use the considerable influence of the IOC to exert strong pressure on the Chinese leadership to secure the unconditional release of Dhondup Wangchen and Golog Jigme, and to ensure that they are not subjected to torture or other ill-treatment while in detention. I also urge you to ensure that all those associated with the film Leaving Fear Behind, including all those interviewed in the film, remain free and unharmed by Chinese authorities.

Thank you.

(...nome...)

Portugal

2 - Texto da carta dirigida ao Presidente da R.P.C.

President of People's Republic of China

Hu Jintao

Guojia ZhuxiThe State Council General Office

2 Fuyoujie, Xichengqu

Beijingshi 100017

People's Republic of China

Your Excellency,

I write out of deep concern over the whereabouts and welfare of Dhondup Wangchen and Golog Jigme, two Tibetans who have been detained by Chinese authorities since March 2008. Their alleged crime was to film Tibetans' peaceful expression of their views in the documentary film Leaving Fear Behind: Tibetans Speak on Tibet, China and the Olympics. Dhondup Wangchen, from Hualong, Haidong (Qinghai) was detained by authorities on or about March 26, 2008. He was held in Ershilipu Detention Center in Xining (Qinghai), and was last seen in Guangsheng Binguan on or about July 12, 2008. Golog Jigme, a monk, from Golog Serta, Ganze (Sichuan) was detained on or about March 23, 2008. He was last seen in a detention center in the town of Lingxia (Gansu). When China made its bid to host the 2008 Olympic Games, it publicly pledged that its hosting of the games would boost the advancement of human rights. The detention of Dhondup Wangchen and Golog Jigme, flies in the face of that commitment. I urge you to immediately disclose the whereabouts of these two men and to secure their unconditional release. Until they are released, please do all that is within your power to ensure that they are not subjected to torture or other ill-treatment. I also urge you to ensure that all those associated with the film Leaving Fear Behind, including all those interviewed in the film, remain free and unharmed.

“Non-violence is a term I had to coin in order to bring out the root meaning of…‘Ahimsa’. It is the soul force or the power of Godhead with us…therefore; it can never mean passivity…Non-violence demands infinite courage, such a courage that surpasses the bravery of the soldier.”